Safety Tips for Operators of Heavy Earth Moving Equipment
On any construction site, a lot of work is done by heavy earth moving equipment so as to finish the project much faster and more effectively. But the use of heavy equipment call for a lot of maintenance and safety measures to prevent major problems down the road. The last thing you would want on a job site is non-working equipment due to improper maintenance, frequent breakdowns, thereby slowing down your operations. Here are some safety tips for operators of heavy earth moving equipment to keep the machine up and running all the time…
1. Safety tips for driving and operating heavy equipment:
• Operators must check the heavy machinery thoroughly before driving and operating for anything amiss.
• Before starting the equipment, ensure that the equipment has been serviced according to the schedule.
• Many attachments are used with the heavy earth moving equipment including backhoe loaders and the like. Hence, see to it that as a responsible operator, you lower all the attachments and set the brakes.
• Operators should also ensure that the work area is absolutely clear before moving or backing up the equipment.
• Make sure that you don’t leave the machine on a slope with the engine running as this may put the machine into motion.
• Take extra care while working near the edges of cuts or fills.
2. Safety tips for maintenance and repair of heavy equipment:
• Operators should ensure that the engines are completely shut off and keys are removed before carrying out any repair or maintenance activity.
• Lubricate all the moving parts of the machine well as they will fail if they aren’t lubricated properly. Too little as well as too much lubrication can be harmful for the machine. So, you need to lubricate the machine wisely.
• Keep the engine completely shut off while refuelling the equipment.
• Another great tip for properly maintaining the equipment is to make sure it stays as clean as possible and dirt and debris are removed regularly.
• Earth moving machinery parts are fitted with special seals and filters designed to keep dirt and grime out of sensitive areas. Hence, broken seals must be repaired immediately, breathers must be kept clean and all filters should be inspected regularly and changed when they become dirty or clogged.
• If possible, keep the equipment housed in a building.
• Create and follow a maintenance schedule. Include notations on how often each part of the machinery should be inspected for problems, repairs and general maintenance.
• Pay close attention to wear and tear signs as they may signal problems that can cause machinery to malfunction more often or result in costly repairs or component replacements before your regular inspection. Some common signs of wear and tear are vibration, heat and belt shape.
3. Safety tips for parking and security of heavy equipment:
• Make sure that as operators of the heavy equipment, you lower the attachments and set the parking brake and put the lever in the neutral position before dismounting the equipment after the day’s work.
• Park the equipment in such a way that it does not obstruct the traffic.
Thus, as responsible operators of heavy earth moving equipment, you need to follow these tips to operate the equipment safely, increase its lifespan and prevent dangerous injuries. These small but important tips can help you to increase productivity as well as efficiency of the machine.
